The Starkville Planning and Zoning Commission granted a conditional use request Thursday which opens the door for renovation of the former University Inn on Highway 12, across from Mississippi State University.
During a special called meeting, father-and-son developers Larry and Jeremy Tabor, of Tabor Properties LLC, received the commission”s blessing to convert the 40-year-old, 100-room hotel into 50 condos. The conditional use of the C-2 (general business) zoned area must be approved by the Starkville Board of Aldermen at its June 1 meeting before construction can begin.
The commission originally heard the request at its May 12 meeting but chose to table the request so three absent commissioners could weigh in on the decision.
The majority of the discussion Thursday evening centered around whether the office building portion of the hotel, which is adjacent to the building the Tabors plan to renovate, could be put to use and whether the conditional use for multi-family housing would remain in effect for the property if the project is abandoned.
Larry Tabor addressed the board”s fears that the office building would sit dormant while the residential building was filled with condos.
“We”ve been contacted by motels and three restaurants,” he said. “There are a lot of things in the works for the property next door but nothing”s concrete.”
Tabor Properties owns both buildings, and Larry Tabor said the office building will likely be demolished and replaced with some combination of a restaurant, sports bar and retail businesses.
“By the time we get this constructed, we”ll have definite plans,” he said.
The project will pour an estimated $2.5 million into the local economy in contract work and materials, with the additional hope the Tabor properties will draw other businesses to the corner where Pizza Hut, Burger King and a movie theater formerly operated.
To assure the conditional use wouldn”t exist in perpetuity in the event the project failed, the commission added a condition stating Tabor Properties must obtain an occupancy contract within 18 months of the date the Board of Aldermen approves the conditional use or it expires. City Planner Ben Griffith had previously added the condition that the property obtains a drainage easement which met the city planner”s approval.
Larry Tabor told the commission he had been in contact with the developers of the proposed CottonMill Marketplace, and they expressed their intent to build a 120-room hotel near a planned conference center, but more temporary housing would be helpful. The Tabors” condos will serve as a condo hotel.
Developer Mark Nicholas is working with partners to purchase MSU”s E.E. Cooley Building and surrounding land, near the University Inn development, for retail space, restaurants, residences, a hotel and conference center.
The units will be individually owned but may be rented out by Tabor Properties with the owners” permission.
The condos, which will cost an estimated $80,000 each, will come fully furnished with hardwood floors, full-appliance kitchens, washers and dryers.
According to Jeremy Tabor, the one-bedroom condos are intended for alumni to purchase so they”ll have a place to stay in Starkville during trips, but wouldn”t be well suited for daily use.
He expressed his confidence all the condos would be sold before construction is completed.
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